Snow-removal apparatus



C. SQUIRE.

SNOW REMOVAL APPARATUS.

APPucATmN man JUNE 4.1920,

1,386,137. V Patented Aug. 2,1921.

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c. sQumE.

SNOW REMOVAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION ILED )UNE 4,1920.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

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c. SQUIRE.

SNOW REMOVAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED )UNE 4.1920.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3 c. sQUmE.

SNOW REMOVAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4| 1920.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4 @nuo/whoa m www atto/rma:

C. SQUIRE. SNOW REMOVAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4.1920.

1,386,137, Patentd Aug. 2, 1921.

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CHARLES SQUIEE, oF D EaNs, NEW JERSEY.

SNOW-REMOVAL FPPARATUS,

Specicatioii of LettersPatenti.4 Putelitd llgl. 2, 1921.

Application tiled June 4, 1920. f Serial Noli386,559;

To all whom t may concern.' i

Be it known that I, CHARLES SQUIBE, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Deans` Middlesex county, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Snow-Removal Apparatus, of which (he following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for removing snonv from highways, and has special reference to a snow melting machine.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified construction of devices of -this character.

A second object of the invention is to provide an improved snow melting machine wherein the mechanism is so arranged that the snow is gathered up into a tank, melted in the tank and the resultant water allowed to How out along the sides of the road or street so that in a Street it may pass along the gutters to the sewer drops.

A third obfect of the invention is the vprovision of an improved form of melting tank for use in connection with a device of this description.

A fourth object of the invention is the provision of an improved arrangement 0f fuel oil burners and the Supply of air and fuel air therefor.

.A fifth object of the invention is the provision of an improved machinery arrangement for such a device so that when desired the machinery for propelling from one place to another may be utilized for operating the elevator` which forms a part of the device, and supplying compressed air. the utilizar tion of such machinery being effected through power transmission elements suitably arranged.

A sixth object of the invention is the provision of means in connection with certain of the foregoing power transmission elements whereby the propellingr machinery may be operated to use its entire force in propulsion. the last mentioned means effecting operation of the melting and elevating devices independentlyY of the propelling means.

With the above and other objects in view. as will be hereinafter apparent. the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction, combinations of parts. and arrangements of elements hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings. and specifically claimed.

ln the accompanying drawings, like characters ofi-kreferencefindicate parts `ini theiseveral views, and

Figure -1 is `a planfview'of'an automobileV truck carrying the improved snow melting machinery.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. l

Fig. 3. is a detail transverse section of the melting 'tank of myfinvention, taken on the line 3 3 of Figy4, -the section being taken close tothe -front end-of such tank and a part of the rear wall. of the tank being broken away in order to show` one of the heating elements.: f

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal median section through such tank on the line 4-4`of Fig, 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed longitudinal sectional view throughone of the oil burn'- ers shown in Fig. 4. l@ v r Fig. 6 is an elevation of the elevator which forms part of my invention, one side board of the elevator shown'in Fig. 7 being-re moved to exposethe interior arrangement and certain of the parts being in section.

Fig. 7 is a'longitudinal sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6. .n .f

Fig. 8 is an enlarged'end view'of a compressed air tank used herewith, the tank being arranged to heat the contained air, and a certain portion ofithe end being broken away to show -the'hea'ting elements.

Flg. 9 is a side elevation ofthe tank shown in Fig. ,8, only one end being shown and that partly7 broken away to show the heating ele; ments.

Fig. 1() is a detail view looking-from the left of Fig. 11 of a clutch shipper arrangement forming part of my invention.

Fig. 11 iS a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 10 viewed from the right.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail view partly in section showing the swiveling jackscrew device used for raising the free end of'lthc elevator.

Fig. 13 is a Side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 12. i

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a chain grip used to permit regulation of the height of the front edge of the elevator boot.

Fig. 15 is a piping. and wiring diagram showing the arrangement of the various parts of the device .in a schematic manner.

In carrying out the objects of the invention there is provided an automobile truck having the'usual frame 2O Supported on driving wheels 21 and steering wheels 22. the latter being controlled through the usual steering post and Wheel as indicated at 23.

tery

On the forward part of the truck is mounted the propellingengine, not Shown, which 1s` covered by the ordinary hood 2'-i. At each` side of the truck 1s zi running board 25 being all ofthe old endwell known typeare not deemed necessary to be shown here in detail, but it is to be noted that aniong these parts is a line lshaft or tail shaft 29 which carries a sprocket 30. This sprocket 30 is. connected to a sprocket 31 on thev jack-i shaft,V 32 by means ofa sprocket chain 33. The truckv isprovided with1 e plttorm 34 and on this plait-form with its shaft in alinement Withl'ithe* jacksheft 32 is mounted e, generator 35 of any preferred type:d

A; clutch 36 servestoconnect the jeckslinft 32 Withthe genetoi shaft at vwill softhla't when the motor 'of the truclb is running land the jck and generator shafts connected the.

generator will be operated.

At 37 is ai stdrztge battery, one pole ot which is connected to the generator 35 by a wire 38 as shown in Fig; t5. Ait 39 isa switchboard and the other pole offthe bet-A 37 is connected to the pivot points of a series of switches on the 'switchboard 39 by means of a wire 40, a swithfll beihgiiiteposed in the wire 40,l the latter being so arranged that it may be opened to break-the circuit thronghthe bttery 37 from the gen erstor 35 :ind forni el circuit from the ,gein crater 35 directly ,to the wire A40, n Contact 42 being connected to th'wie 38 between the generator andbttery 37 for this purpdse. i

Carried on the platform 34 are certain compressed air tnks 43 and 4A, the foi-'incr being the cold air tank and the latter the liot air tank.- It is the intent to have these tanks of suiicient strength to cerry a, very considerable arnount of pressure, als for instance, the tank 43 will be preferably designed to carry 1000 pounds to the square inch,- while the tank 44 will ci'ry say 500. These tanks 43 and 44 are respectively supe plied with compressed vair by tribansv of pumps 45 and 46 which are provided with suitble `automatic mechanisms to 'prevent excess pressure being supplied the tafnks. The pumps are connected to their respectivo tanks by the pipes T wherein are check valves 4:8. For the purpose of operating the ps 45 sind 4G there are pr'ovided motors 49 and 50. One pole of each of these motors is connected to a line wire 5l lendingto the generator 35 by means of a wire The' remaining pole of the motor 49 is con nected by a wite 53 to one terminal of :1 switch 54, this being .one of the switches 26' for Athe 35 .in operation, generator 35 throughthewire38,battery 37,-

connected to the Wire 40. In like manner the ntr`50"is c'oiinctedby a wire 55 to a switch ,50.IMoreoYerin the Wire 5l is a switch 57 which may be swung to connect with :i contact 58 et ythe end oi :i wire 59 connecting theii'i'eSQ Now it will be seen that by this means if? for .instence, the switch 54 be closed and the other switches remain in the position shown in 15, with the generator current willftiow from the wire'lO-and switch 4l; switch 54,wire 53; motor 49', Wire 52', wire 51,l and switch 57, beck .to the generator 35. Again, if the switch 415 :be engaged with the cont/ict 32 itwillE be obvious that in place of the current iowing through the battery 37,' it wil-i flow directly from the generator to-the-wdre 40'.` In this :wey the battery may be vcut out when it is sired to use the sameswStiil further, 1n ceseV o'fdail'ure of the' generator 35, the switch 57 Indy-be turned to engage the contact 58; the switch 41 remaining as :in Fig. 15;"'In this instance,current will fiow from the btteryf throughthe wi're'40 and the cire cuit previously described coming beck to' the battery throughirtlie wire 5l, Switch 5T, contact 58, wire 59 and wire 53. Invthis manner, the buttery itself maybe Iliti-heed tof run the motor.` In likeA manner, the cir cuit may be'traced' to run the motor 50 and this motor may obtain its power directly from the generator', directly from the bat tery or from the generator through the battery.

r1`he forward end of the truck frame is extended s at 60 'and on this extended end is mounted a meitingtank 61. This melting tank 'is providedwith an outer wall 62 and an inner WellV 63 which is spliced from the oliter vVall and sbeiieled outwardly at the to connect with said outer wall as shown at 64. Tlie bottom `of this tank consists: of "late which is so bentas to provide anti4 cl1nel sides65 and at the same time is inclined from front to rear as clearly seen in Fi 4, theV ridge of the :late being there in icetedet/ G6 and it wili be noted that at the forward end this ridge Vterminates in :1

eek 67 so that there is formed beneath the ottoni: af'ridged Iend peaked pocket. Arranged between the inner and outer walls 62 and 63 :tre longitudinally extending electric heating elements 68 which are held away from the outer wall by a partition (39.- the space between the outer vWall and partition being packed with asbestos or the like as nt 70 sol that the heat from these elements willbe 'practically confined to-the inner porA tion of the-tenir'.

Below the ta'nk bottom and in the pocket formed by the bottom is a series of longitudinally extending pipes 7l whiclrare inclined to lie perni-lei tofthe inclination of the not de-l ridge 66 as can be seen in Fig. v4. These pipes connect to afheader 72Which in turn connects, by means of a pipe 73, Awith the tank 44, a suitable valve 74 beinglocated in said ipe y73. The pipes 71 carry burners 75. ach of these burners has 'its" interior shaped to forma Venturi tube 76 and each burner is provided with a jet'nozle`77,"tl1e mouth of which terminatesa't `the` narrowst part of the venturi. "These jetsf77"'are4 oonnected to pipes 78fivhich lie` beneath `the pipes 71 and which communicate with a eader 79 which in turn'coinmunicates with a pipe 8O leading toa fuel oily supply tank are provi 81`carried on thetruck adjacentfthe rear thereof. In the pipe 80 is auvalv'e 82 for controlling the flow of oil throughthis pipe. Furthermore, in order to force the` oilfrom the tank 81 this tankis connected by appe 83, having a valve 84 therein',.i vith the tank 43vpreviously describedQ f: l I

ithin the tank 44 'is arranged a lining 85 which is perforated as at 86I and between thislinin and the outer` vvall of the' tank ded electrical heating elements`87 of the ordinary type. Thus, by operating these heating elements the air in the tank 44 may be heated prior to 'feeding itfto'the burner 75 and thus a higher eifici'ncy may be obtained from these'burners than Would be the case if cold air werensed.

It is to be noted thatthe melting tank 61 is provided with flanged outlet pipes 88 on each side so that suitable hose or delivery pipes may be connected to these outlets and Water from the melting tank delivered to any desired point along the road.

The heating element 68 has one of its terminals connected by means of a Wire 89 with the Wire 51. The other terminal of this heating element is connected by a Wire 90 with a switch 91 on the switchboard 39, this switch being one of those connected to the wire 40. Thus, by closing the switch 91, current will pass through the heating element 68 as can readily be traced by referring to Fig. 15. ln like manner, a wire 92 connects the terminal of the element 57 to the wire 51, while a Wire 93 connects the otherv terminal of said element to a `the switchboard 39.

Mounted on the forward upward corners of the tank 61 are brackets 95 which Support a shaft 96 on which is mounted a sprocket 97. This shaft 97 is connected by a chain 98 with a sprocket 99 on the shaft of a motor 100, so that when this motor is operated the shaft 96 will be driven. One pole of the motor 100 is connected by a wire 101 with the wire 51, While the other pole is connected by a Wire 102 with va switch 108 on the switchboard 39 so that by closing the switch 103 the motor 100 may be operated. Supported on the shaft 96 is an elevator which is provided ivith side boards 104 and switch 94 on between these side boards on the shaft 96 are xed sprockets 105 which are connected by chains 106 to sprockets 107 mounted on a shaft`108 carried in journals 109 at the lower ends of the side boards 104. On the chains 106 are fixed the sections of al Slat apron 110, certain sections of the apron carrying nights 111. Mounted on the outside ofthe bearings 109 are other bearings 112 and serveto carry a scoop-like elevator boot V113, the elevator boot beingso arranged that it may have limited rotation about 'the shaft 108 with respect to the sides 104. 't one side of the' boot 113 is a bracket 114 whereto is connected one end cfa chain 115. As shown in'Fig. 14,"there is provided; adja-j cent the drivers seat abracket 116 having a rib 117 projectingitherefrom and provided with a slot L118 of sufficient Width to receive a link ed, 2;evvise,4 but vwhich is suiliciently narrow to -preventpassage'of 'a link in any -other positlonas can `'be clearly seenby referring to said yligure.` By means of lthis chan'it will be obvious thatthe forward edge of the boot 113 may be raised or low! ered atthe will ofthe operator of lthedevice, Secured beneath the elevator at 'each side thereof is apivot bracket 119* Whereto is pivoted v'one end of a jack-screw ,120. Mounted at each side of the frame extension is a bearin 121 which receives the pivot 122l ofa swive ing sleeve 123`thrugh which passes the screw 120, the screw being freely slidable in said sleeve. On top of 'the sleeve and fitting the screw is an adjusting nut 124 which may be rotated by any suitable means as by a ratchet wrench. Thus, b'y'rotating the nut inI one direction, the elevator as a Whole will be raised While, if the nut be rotated in the o posite direction, the elevator will drop. it 125 is a fluid pressure engine preferably a turbine, and this engine is connected by a pipe 126, having a valve 127. with the tank 43. Moreover, the shaft of this turbine is in alinement with the shaft of the generator 35, and may be clutched thereto by means of a clutch 128. Thus, in the event that it be desired to use the full power of the propelling engine of thc truck for a short time in propelling the device it is merely necessary to disconnect the shaft 32 by proper operation of its clutch, from the generator, connect the turbine 125 to the generator by its clutch and open the valve 127. l

In order to operate the clutches 36 and V128 there is provided a shipper fork 130 for each of these clutches, each of such forks being mounted beneath the platform 34 on a shaft 131, supported in bearings 132 and provided with a suitable operating lever 133 working over a quadrant 134. Thus, the clutching or unclutching of the shafts previously mentioned may be readily regulated as can be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 2. -At the der ordinary circumstances rear end of the machine is provided the usual gasolene tank 135 best ,seen in Fig. 2. ln the operation of the devioethe operator adjusts the lower end of 'the elevator by means of the screws l2() and nut 124.,A 'He then adjusts the forward edvei of theboot v113.by means of the .chain 11 In the'lcase of asphalt pavements, itvvouldbe advisable to allow the edge toscrape'fthe avements while whe'nithe roads are 'rough this forward edge should be raised` alconsiderable'disf tance above the surface of the roadto'avoid irregularities.A Being thus imposition for operating theI truck motor isstarted and `unther generator 35 connected up. i

l Thisgenerator .igsoperate by closing the proper switches on. the switchboard 39 to puinpair into theianksfl and 44, switch 94 being also closed at ,time t0` heat `the ,nini in -theatnk Whimi the air pressure has reached thldsired #nimmt in the compressed air p the-.vdyeS-r, 82 and 84 are opened, andthe bnrierslj lighted. The truck iS then moved Einwand andthe motor 100 started.; Asthe truelgad vances snow up bythe-,boot 1:13, elevated and deposited' themelting tank. Owin to the peculiar shapeof-.thcbottom of this tank ,the heat from the burners is confined to a great ,extentvn the.b0ttom and at the same time the snow whinlidisA de,- posited onthe ridge. o bottom will spread down on the anticlinal sides of the bottom and also to the rear, thus beingtei'- fectively and quickly so that .the water may be drawn oft through the. outlets 88. ln the event thatthe snowfall is hearty and beyond the ca acity of `the uel oil burners to melt, ditional heat may ,be readily provided by closing the switch 9 1 and thus actuating the heat elements. 68. lt will thus be seen that the device rovides for the various conditions of snow all and not only that, but provides for temporary 'increases of power as in workinguthrongh drifts since the.I turbine .can be used toassist the truck the propelling engine whenever desired and the storage batterycan be drawn on in like manner to relieve the truck propeiling engine. v

There has thus been provided a highly ef- {icient device of the kind vdescribed and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that many minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from ithe material principles therenf. lt is not' therefore desired to confine lthe invention tothe exact form herein shown and described, but it is wished to include all such as properly come within the Scope claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. The combination with a wheeled truck and its motor; of an elevator.atl the front .todeliver snow to said tank,

of the truck arranged to continuously elcvate snow` and the like as the truck moves forward, a melting tank on the truck havin a bottomI down which snow may pass 'said bottom sloping downwardly in opposite directions from 'an intermediate point an in a direction transverse to said first named directions; said Atank also having outlets, at

'means to heat, sai'd bottoni,

the snow Vas'it passes over said bottom.

2. A snow melting machine including-a truck, a motor to drive said truck, a melting tank onthe truck, fuel burners ,arrangedV to heat said' tank, a liquid fuelsupply Atank communicating with said burners, a pluralityof compressed air tanks on said truck one of said tanks communicating with saiV burnersLindependent airpumps for supplying compressed air to said tanks, anl electric motor for each of said pumps, a generator, circuit connections. ,between the generator and the electric motors,l an operative connection including a. clutch between` the generator-mld the truck motor, an air engine fior said enerator having ,supply connection with t e second compressed air tank, and an operative connection including a clutch between the air engine and generator. i 3. A snow meltinglmachine'includinp; a truck, a motor to drive said truck, a melting tank on the forward end of said truck, an elevator carried by the truck and arranged to deliver snow to `said tank, vfuel oil burners` beneath the tank, auxiliary electric heaters surrounding the melting sparc in said tank, electric motor means to. operate the elevator, a fuel oil tank connected to said burners, 4an air pump for compressing air for. said burners, electric motor means for driving said pump, a generator coiniected to the heaters and el tric motor means, and au operative connection between the generator and the driving motor of the truck.

4. A snow melting machine including a truck, a, motor to drive said truck, a meltinpT tank on the forward end of said truck, au elevator carried by the truck and arranged fuel oil luirners beneath the tank, auxiliary electric heaters surrounding the melting space in said tank, electric motor means to operate the elevator, a ueloil tank connected to said burners, an air pump for compressing air for said burners, electric motor means for driving `said pump, a generator connected to the heaters and electric motor means, a releasable connection between the generator and the truck driving motor, and independent driving means releasably connected to the generator.

ln testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES SQUIRE.

llD 

